West Coast Life

West Coast Life's offices from 1920-1972 at the southwest corner of Market and Second Streets. Foresight, Enterprise, Success

Over the next decade, West Coast Life strengthened and grew, opening insurance offices in all
of the principal cities in the west. The first general agency was established in Honolulu in 1912, marking West Coast Life as the first American life insurance company in Hawaii.

Expansion continued but not at the expense of efficiency. In 1915, to reduce costs and business duplication, West Coast Life merged with the San Francisco Life Insurance Company. During this period, the new firm entered and appointed agents in Texas and Montana and became the first American life insurance company to operate in the Philippine Islands. For the next decade the company aggressively expanded sales and entered the Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, Oklahoma and New Mexico markets and became the first American life insurance company to open in China and the Crown Colony of Hong Kong. At the close of 1930, a robust West Coast Life reported over $20,000,000 in assets, nearly $2,000,000 in capital and surplus funds, nearly $18,000,000 in liabilities, and total life insurance in force amounting to $133,000,000.


Overseas Expansion and World War II

Prosperity and growth continued for West Coast Life with successful expansion in the Far East. Despite being cut off from overseas operations at the outset of World War II, the company continued to fulfill its policy obligations there in a manner that strengthened its reputation for quality and performance. Marketing efforts have since been concentrated in the United States.


Post War Growth and Acquisitions

Growth at home was significantly helped by acquisitions giving West Coast Life new found presence. In 1964, Nationwide Corporation (Ohio), acquired the company. West Coast Life then merged with Gulf Atlantic Life (Texas) in 1978. The company later assumed the individual life operations of Michigan Life in 1985, Durham Life (North Carolina) in 1989, Employers Life of Wausau (Wisconsin) in 1994 and Farmland Life (Iowa) in 1995. In 1997, the company was acquired by Protective Life Insurance Company (Tennessee).


A Spirited Past Positioned for the Future

West Coast Life is the oldest life insurance company home based in San Francisco and is one of the few companies that boasts a heritage extending more than 90 years. The company's slogan, "The Spirit of the West" continues to reflect the vision of its forefathers as well as being the inspiration behind West Coast Life's many outstanding industry "firsts."

Source: West Coast Life Insurance Company archives.